The touring West Indies cricketers warmed up for the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka with a comprehensive – wicket win over Sri Lanka Cricket President’s XI in a one-day warm-up match played at FTZ Sports Complex (BOI) Katunayake yesterday.
Leading West Indies’s run chase of 277 was Barbadian right-hander Roston Chase who hit a scintillating 136 off 113 balls as they reached the target with 21 balls to spare.
Chase who hit 16 fours and a six in his enduring knock and shared a fourth wicket stand of 108 with Sunil Ambris (34 n.o.) was dismissed with the scores level at 277 when he was cleaned up by Vishwa Fernando who was the pick of the SLC President’s XI bowlers ending with figures of two for 56.
West Indies run chase was initially stalled when they lost the wickets of Brandon King (7) and Darren Bravo (3) to be 35-2 at the end of the eighth over.
But Shai Hope joined by Chase led a West Indian recovery with a partnership of 133 off 137 balls that put them back on track.
Hope was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Amila Aponso for a well constructed innings of 85 off 102 balls (11 fours).
Ambris and Chase then carried on from there to ensure West Indies reached their target comfortably.
Chase also starred with the ball capturing two wickets for 57 runs with his off-breaks to restrict SLC President’s XI to 276-8 after they won the toss and choose to bat first.
The hosts lost their first four wickets for 74 runs including that of established Sri Lanka cricketers Lahiru Thirimanne leading the side and Dinesh Chandimal who both failed to make an impression being dismissed for scores of 4 and 5. Asela Gunaratne and Pathum Nissanka steadied the innings with 40s apiece, but the real recovery was staged by wicket-keeper Minod Bhanuka and Ramesh Mendis.
The two 24-year-olds figured in a sixth wicket stand of 83 off 93 balls that carried SLC President’s XI towards their final total.
Bhanuka struck four fours and a six in his innings of 69 off 88 balls and Mendis hit five fours and two sixes in his enterprising knock of 64 off 63 balls. The West Indies were again guilty of bowling plenty of wides giving the home side the luxury of 26 out of an extras total of 31.
West Indies play the first ODI against Sri Lanka at the SSC grounds on Saturday.
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